Read More Behind the TorchMargaret-Anne Dyson
Graduate Student in Sport Management
As you may know, our group took on the Manitou Springs Incline yesterday morning. But, the experience did not stop there.
Many of us awakened to a soreness we had never experienced. Let’s just say the Incline made a lasting impression.
Today was another day of sightseeing and fellowship. This afternoon we made the trip to the Air Force Academy. Security has been heightened throughout military bases across the country so getting onto the base was no easy task.
We met with Jenny Stone, athletic trainer for the Air Force Academy’s volleyball and track and field teams. Even with the heightened security, Stone was able to show us around the athletic facilities on campus. We were taken to the hockey rink, basketball court, indoor track, training rooms and weight room.
Once we were escorted outside, we were shown where the outdoor track, baseball field and soccer fields were supposed to be. I say “supposed to be” because all of these fields were covered with snow. You could not tell where which field ended and where another began.
Walking through these facilities, I could not help but think of the amazing facilities that The University of Alabama has.
In the football complex alone, we have a huge indoor facility, a state of the art training room, locker rooms that could compare to any professional football team, and so much more.
On the other hand, the views surrounding this campus are indescribable. Most importantly, the snow-capped mountains are as far as you can see. No picture would be able to do them justice.
After the tour of the athletic facilities, we were taken to see the church. Stone discussed the various denominations of each church service, including Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and Buddhist.
The stained glass windows inside the church were of every color, and the organ took up the entire back side of the church. Unfortunately, we were not able to attend a service this morning because of the heightened security, but, luckily, it was open for us to tour.
With the conclusion of the tour, we headed back to the Olympic Training Center for some quick downtime before heading to the Broadmoor Hotel.
The Broadmoor Hotel is a five-star hotel in Colorado Springs. It’s yet another beautiful sight and includes floral arrangements with hundreds of roses, old photographs of the building of the hotel, oriental rugs of every color and a fantastic view of the mountains.
Also, within a hallway of the lobby of the Broadmoor, there are hundreds of pictures on the wall of athletes, entertainers, politicians and royalty that have stayed, played or been to the Broadmoor.
From pit stops at rock formations to the Air Force Academy to a five-star hotel, we have been lucky enough to see so many sights this place has to offer.
Being from Florida, I have never seen anything like the views we have here. The snow stays on the top of the mountains all day, the temperature varies 20 to 30 degrees in a day, and the sun sometimes seems to not exist.
Today was a leisurely day full of beautiful views and a good time with my classmates. Tomorrow will be a long day full of speakers, as well as more travel, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
Fifteen prospective sport management professionals from The University of Alabama will have an opportunity to interact with the nation’s sport managers during a graduate-level, interim travel course at the United States Olympic Committee headquarters. Three of these students – 23-year-old Margaret-Anne Dyson, of Pensacola, Florida, 23-year-old Brea Armstrong, of Memphis, Tennessee, and 24-year-old Aaron Williams, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin — will blog about their learning adventures over the next seven days.